Tag Archives: kids

The wait is over. Part two of the Filters for Kids series is here, so you can breathe easy. Well, almost. We suggest that you first make sure the air around you is safe…

Filters for Kids, Part Two: The Stuff We Breathe In

In the last post, I addressed the issue of contaminated water sources in schools and the health risks they pose to children. But water contamination is not just an issue in schools. Parents should take measures to ensure clean water for their kids at home as well. And not just clean drinking water. Clean bath water is also essential to good health.

Many water treatment facilities use chlorine as a disinfectant for public water sources. Bathing in chlorinated water can cause dry skin and damaged hair as the water is absorbed through the skin. Inhaling the vapors in the air during a shower can also lead to respiratory problems, including asthma, after long-term exposure. This is especially dangerous for young children whose immune systems aren’t as strong as adults’. Perhaps you already have chlorine shower filters installed in your bathrooms. But if your child is too young to shower on his own, does that mean he has to suffer?

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet. The hand held Sprite shower filter for babies removes 99 percent of free chlorine, leaving skin soft and lungs healthy. It has an adapter that enables it to attach to the kitchen sink for newborn babies and infants, and as your child grows older, the Baby Shower easily connects to any shower arm with the enclosed bracket. Does your child prefer baths over showers? We’ve got that covered too. The Rainshow’r Crystal Ball Bath Dechlorinator removes up to 100 percent of free chlorine from bath water and is completely safe for infants.

Chlorinated water is not the only thing that increases the risk of respiratory problems. Asthma is common in young children who are exposed to air pollution on a regular basis. Dust, pollen, mold spores, smoke, pet dander and other irritants easily get trapped in homes, causing allergies and other problems after long-term exposure. Parents can ensure their children have access to clean air in the home with an air purifier. Both the Whirlpool Whispure and 3M Filtrete Ultra Quiet air purifier models are ideal for a baby’s nursery or a child’s bedroom.

Parents, here are some filters to protect your kids from air and water pollutants.

You know what they say: “A filter a day keeps the doctor away.”

Okay, so maybe that’s not how the original saying goes, but there is still some truth to it. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then parents should, no doubt, be concerned about what their children are eating. What parents may not know is that the quality of what their children are drinking, bathing in and breathing is just as important. Here are some ways to ensure your kids have access to pure, uncontaminated sources of air and water.

Filters for Kids, Part One: The Stuff We Drink

National Geographic recently published an article discussing the dangers of contaminated water that runs through school fountains and sinks. Water contaminated with lead and other toxic substances is a particular concern for urban schools that have old pipelines, as lead is known to affect the physical and mental development of children. Clearly, lead belongs in the pencils children use at school, not in their drinking water.

The obvious solution to this problem is – you guessed it – bottle water. But, before you send your child off to school with an apple and a bottle of water in his lunchbox, consider the risks. Bottled water is 1,000 times more costly than tap and is bad for the environment. There is also a chance that if your child is drinking water from a bottle, he may be exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA), a harmful substance found in a variety of plastic containers and other consumer products, including baby bottles.

It looks like we have a true dilemma on our hands. If tap water is bad, and bottled water is bad, then what can your child drink?

Well, not all bottles are bad. A lot of plastic bottle manufacturers have switched to BPA-free bottles, since consumers and the FDA expressed concerns about the health risks of this toxic substance. Rather than buying bottled water, (which is likely bottled tap water anyway), parents can instead buy reusable water bottles for kids and refill them with filtered tap water. Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles come in various sizes and are BPA-free, as are Klean Kanteen Sippy Cups for smaller children. Certain models of the Brita filter pitcher also come with a BPA-free Nalgene bottle. Another solution is to purchase a bottle that has an attachable filter cartridge. The Filters Fast 16 oz. water filter bottle removes significant amounts of lead and other toxic contaminants every time you refill it.

Just wanted to share one more article on the Plane Clean Air Filter that was published over at Gadling, a popular travel blog.
The Plane Clean Air Filter made the list of “Kid Friendly Travel Products for your Upcoming Summer Vacation.” Most of the products on the list are unabashedly designed for children: rolling luggage that looks like a tiger, a “tadpole” iPod case and headphone kit, Disney luggage, etc.
While the Plane Clean Air Filter does not sport any vibrant colors or the likenesses of any popular animated personalities, it does do one thing exceptionally well: it removes 99.5 percent of bacteria, germs and viruses from the air. Given all of the recent talk about Swine Flu and the H1N1 virus, it may be the most beneficial item to make the list.
But these viruses are by no means the only reason to look into the Plane Clean Air Filter. Since there are always a few coughing, aching and sneezing passengers aboard any given flight, it would be wise to invest in any device that stands to ward off illness or sickness, especially if you are sharing a long flight with such people.